Lummus Technology Heat Transfer Helixchanger™

RCR Stelform is a licensed supplier of Lummus Technology Heat Transfer (LTHT) Helixchanger™ .

Helixchanger(TM) Contents
1: Introduction and Overview
2: Applications
3: Cost Benefits
4: Diagrams and Images

Page 1

Helixchanger (TM) 

Licensed supplier of

LTHT Helixchanger™

Helixchanger™ History

  • 1900: First basic Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger.
  • 1907: Lummus founded in USA.
  • 1931: First Helical type Heat Exchanger.
  • 1941: TEMA becomes Shell & Tube standard.
  • 1951: Tinker studies shell-side flows.
  • 1963: Bell describes Delaware method.
  • 1980: Vuchz (J. Nemcansky) invents Helixchanger™.
  • 1994: LTHT becomes exclusive world-wide licensor of Helixchanger™.

Future Market Indicators

  • Global competition leads to innovative and durable products.
  • Modern refineries aim for less maintenance and unplanned shut-downs.
  • End users look for added value.
  • Total Life Cycle Cost Analysis becomes more and more important.
  • Global reduction of C02 emissions (Kyoto, 1997).
  • Energy and water savings.

Advantages:

  • Cost saving on Total Life Cycle Basis
  • Subsidized by Dutch government
  • Less shell-side fouling
  • Higher shell-side heat transfer
  • Lower shell-side pressure drop
  • Reduction of vibration hazards
  • Homogeneous two-phase flow distribution
  • Improving plant reliability and availability
  • Improving plant run length

Applications:

  • Shell-side heat transfer controlled
  • Shell-side pressure drop controlled
  • High shell-side fouling
  • Shell-side gravity phase separation
  • Potential tube vibration
  • High thermal leakage
  • Plant run length controlled

Mechanical Guidelines:

  • Conventional design is NTIW
  • Conventional design is Rod Type Baffle
  • Conventional design has large (>400mm) segmental baffle spacing
  • Conventional design has double segmental baffles
  • Low-fin tubes
  • Tube inserts
  • TEMA type is E-Shell
  • TEMA type is J-Shell

Thermal Guidelines:

  • Shell side thermal resistance > 40% of U-fouled
  • Shell side fouling resistance > 30% of U-fouled
  • When conventional design operates in turbulent flow (Re > 10000), high Helix-angle ( > 25 degr.) can be applied. CAPEX saving substantial by making use of the shell-side enhancement factor (Y10)
  • Good anti-fouling characteristics for all Helix-angles (5-40 degrees)
  • When conventional design operates in laminair flow (Re > 5000), low Helix-angle (5 < H-angle < 20) can be applied. Good anti fouling and moderate shell-side heat transfer improvement.

Industry Applications:

  • Refinery and Petro-chemical industry: crude/vacuum distillation units; thermal conversion and hydro treating/cracking units; hydrogen manufacturing/purification units; ethylene plants.
  • Power plant industry: nuclear power stations; gasification combined-cycle power plants; district heat systems.
  • Pulp & paper industry.
  • Offshore industry (Platform & FPSO).

Latest Developments:

  • Lummus Technology Heat Transfer participates in HTRI's Global Fouling Research Program
  • Helixchanger™ in HTRI Report S-SS-3-12
  • Trademark for HELIXCHANGER™
  • HTRI Test Partial & Total Condensation August - November 1998
  • HTRI Test Partial & Total Binding March - May 1999
  • HTRI IST - Helixchanger™ calculation engine December 2001
  • Helixchanger™ CFD simulation

Next Page: Helixchanger™ Applications